The 1906 San Francisco earthquake was the largest event (magnitude 8.3) to occur in
the conterminous United States in the 20th Century. Recent estimates indicate that
as many as 3,000 people lost their lives in the earthquake and ensuing fire. In terms
of 1906 dollars, the total property damage amounted to about $24 million from the
earthquake and $350 million from the fire. The fire destroyed 28,000 buildings in
a 520-block area of San Francisco.